Impact of Drought on Beef Industry in Queensland

Research project Data
analysis and results

Executive Summary
Main purpose of this research project is to identify the impact of drought on the beef
industry in Queensland. This is a main aim and for attaining this, different activities were
followed by investigator. Introduction is a first activity that was completed by explaining the
research title, developing research aim and objectives etc. This helped in doing of second activity
that was literature review. This activity was completed by collecting secondary information
through books, articles, publication research etc. This activity helped in fulfilment of research
gap and also in accomplishment of research objectives. Research methodology is the main
activity that was completed by using secondary method of data collection. This helped in
accomplishment of aim and each objective of the research. Findings are completed by analysing
information collected for literature review. Thematic analysis is a research instrument used for
evaluating secondary information. In this method, different themes are created according to the
research question. Conclusion and recommendation are last part of the research project that was
completed by explaining information of entire activity in clear or short manner. Some
recommendations are given for improving research title and achieving research objectives.

Table of Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................2
Research Topic: impact of drought on the beef industry in Queensland.........................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Description of research methodology..............................................................................................5
Literature review:.............................................................................................................................6
Analysis and Results:.....................................................................................................................12
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................15
Recommendations .........................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................18

Research Topic: impact of drought on the beef industry in Queensland
INTRODUCTION
Detailed introduction about the Queensland beef industries and the impacts of droughts
Drought refers to a prolonged, abnormally is a dry period wherein the amount of water is
less and insufficient in order to meet normal use. It can be measured by different ways but also
meteorologists evaluate the extent and severity of drought in relation to deficiencies in rainfall.
As rainfall deficit occurs in case an area's total rainfall is less than in over a period as compared
to the average for that period. In relation to this, the drought has significant contractionary
impact on the economy of the nation (Pahl and et. al., 2016). It also have directly reduced
agriculture employment around 100000 people. Along with this, it is also related with reduction
in production that has also contributes in increasing the food prices. In addition to this, drought
refers to the long and dry period in which there is no sufficient water over the area to meet
people's needs. It is also extreme climatic events that have put long lasting effects over the
people, plan and animals as well. Furthermore, it also affects the overall national economy
because of poor and ineffective farming productivity. It also increases the possibilities of
bushfire and dust storms that affect the living standard of people. In relation to the agricultural
industries it have long term effects as it disrupt cropping programs, reduces breeding stocks.
Drought also leads to serious environmental damages including soil erosion and vegetation loss.
Apart from this, droughts are also considered as a part of life for rural area that can arise
anywhere at any time that put its huge impact over the farmer and their farming activities.
Queensland accounts for one of the largest herd of beef cattle in Australia and as the
largest producer and exporter of beef across the various parts in the nation (Phelps and Kelly,
2019). Queensland is a well-known state in Australia, which is covering the continent’s north-
east and having a coastline stretching nearly 7,000km. Apart from this, the Beef Industry also
forms a major part of total production of livestock industries around 83% of total production in
Queensland. Queensland accounts for the largest herd of beef cattle of Australia and is
considered as the largest producer, as well as exporter of beef across the nation. It has been
observed that Beef cattle production contributes to 83% of the gross value of overall production
of the livestock industries in Queensland (Queensland Government, 2010). However, the recent
survey has reflected that Queensland farmers have been suffering heavy losses due to conditions
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of drought which has resulted in half of the farmers losing their annual income and 60% of the
farmers have been receiving lesser amount of their total potential of water supply. Therefore,
there is a need for the governments at all levels to collaborate in relation to the development of a
sustainable approach for managing this issue (Beef Central, 2018).
Aims and objectives of research
This research provide wider scope to to investigator because it explore the impact of
drought on the beef industry in Queensland. It help in evaluating different aspects related with
economic impact of droughts over the Beef industry in Queensland. In addition of this, it also
carried out to analyse the alternative strategies that can be utilised to eliminate the economic
impact of drought in the Queensland beef industry. All these are the aspects that researcher is
evaluated within the investigation through which investigator can enhance their knowledge
about the same.
Research aim
The main aim of current investigation is, “To evaluate about the impact of drought on
the beef industry in Queensland”.
Objectives of research
The main objectives associated with current research work are listed as below:
 To determine about the economic impacts of drought on the Queensland Beef Industry.
 To evaluate about the drought mitigation and management strategies currently being used in
the beef sector.
 To identify some of the additional or alternative strategies that could be utilised to minimise
the economic impact of drought in the Queensland Beef Industry.
Rational for selection of topic
The selection of current research topic is rationale as it facilitates and leads out a better
understanding about the economic impacts of drought on the Queensland Beef Industry to
facilitate analysis of effective strategies to ensure effective drought mitigation and management
strategies. Thus, current study is crucial and vital from the view point of Beef Industry as it lead
to evaluation of some additional or alternative strategies that could be utilised to minimise the
economic impact of drought in the Queensland Beef Industry (Cullen And et. al., 2016). Further,
selection of current research topic is also rationale from personal interest and academic view
point of researcher to improve understanding and enhance managerial skills. In addition to this,
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current investigation is also effective for investigator in enhancement of their skills and
knowledge on the basis of specified topic. This can be beneficial in improving the chances of
attaining positive and reliable outcomes at the end of the investigation.
Research questions
This section of investigation is also crucial as it is highly based over the research
objectives. Under this, each and every question includes specific issue that is going to addressed
within the research to implement an appropriate results. On the basis of different research
questions, literature review is carried out to acquire detailed analysis. For better understanding,
there are some crucial Research questions are as follows:
The main issues and questions which are to be evaluated and analysed under current study
are provided as below:
 What are the economic impacts of drought on the Queensland Beef Industry?
 What are the drought mitigation and management strategies currently being used in the beef
sector?
 Are there additional or alternative strategies that could be utilised to minimise the economic
impact of drought in the Queensland Beef Industry?
Background of the research
Current investigation is based on the impact of drought on the Queensland beef industry.
In this, drought refers to the period of time where there is no rainfall, and as a result, there is a
shortage of water that put negative impact over the economy of nation. In addition to this,
Queensland is also considered as a tropical biome which is extreme hot and raining. In some
area of Queensland desert there is no enough rainfall that may affect over the beef industry and
also reduce the employment of farmers. Basically, the rainfall decline is extremely high in the
area of Queensland (Hunter, Kennedy and Sparke, 2019). Along with this, drought period in
Australia have been going since 2017 to 2018 and as per Australian bureau of meteorology, the
beef industry and community is also recovering. Due to droughts in Queensland, farmers have
very less money and their crops also destroys. Cattle farmers spend more money on water and
feed for their animals just because they couldn't grow grass in drought. The businesses, which
depends on farming also lose growth when drought highly damage the crops and live stocks.
Research gap: This refers to a missing or insufficient information about the topic in
previous study. In current investigation, main gap is the study in the impact of drought on the
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